Since opening her Starstruck Café & Espresso Barr, in Ottoville several months ago, Jessica Afuola Wannamaker has been pleased with the response and support from the community.
She knew that residents who travel off island regularly are used to specialty coffee and baked goods that are the standard fare for coffee bars in Hawaii and the mainland.
And it was by no coincidence that she picked a name for her business that was close to the internationally known Starbucks coffee.
Jessica and her younger sister Grace run the business and have recently hired two college students as part timers.
She has her mother Tasi Afuola Mauga, a successful businesswoman, to thank for financing StarStruck which is housed in a small building that’s nestled in between two residential homes across from Tradewinds Hotel.
Another business, Le Fofo Massage and Spa, operated by business woman Gemini Ve’ave’a is in the same building.
Jessica says while it’s a scary thought running a business, she’s pleased with their first few months.
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Jessica hopes to see more young people becoming entrepreneurs.
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